On Sept. 14, Newark Mayor Vance Funk, UD President David P. Roselle and John Bishop, UD associate vice president for counseling and student development, visited several homes on South College Avenue to distribute outreach packets promoting good neighborliness to Newark residents and students living off-campus.
Dozens of volunteers then distributed approximately 1,000 "UDo Live Here" packets door-to-door. The packets were assembled by a team of UD staff, representatives from the Delaware Undergraduate Student Congress (DUSC), other students and community members for the Building Responsibility Coalition (BRC). Another 200 packets were handed out during Newark Community Day Sept. 19.
"We really have to come together to make it work," Funk says. "The mayor has to be involved in the community and that includes the University and residents."
Roselle says the outreach packets are designed to encourage dialog and cooperation between students and their neighbors.
"It's important for the neighbors to know what we are telling the students about being respectful and to know that we welcome their input on what we can do to ensure that their lives are not disrupted by students," Roselle says.
"It is the hope of the Building Responsibility Coalition that both student renters and Newark residents will work together to improve the quality of life of those who live in the vicinity of the campus," Bishop says. "Newark is a wonderful place to live, with the town and the University complementing each other very nicely. Establishing and maintaining mutually respectful relationships among students and residents will be beneficial for everyone."
Besides a letter to students and Newark residents from Roselle, Funk and DUSC President John Cordrey, the outreach packets contain contact information for volunteer opportunities, a guide to safe and responsible parties, a Newark Police Department flier about home security and giveaways that include a jar opener, a chip clip and UDaily key ring.
The packets also include a variety of brightly colored posters with the theme "Let's build better neighborhoods!" for both residents and students. Among them is one titled "Make yourself useful," with a message for students: "Living off campus is your opportunity to learn civic responsibility and social skills that will last a lifetime. Your neighbors may need assistance and offering to help them is a step toward positive interaction and communication."
One poster asks residents to celebrate the success and impressive accomplishments of the thousands of the best and brightest students from all over the world who become good neighbors in Newark. Another poster, titled "Don't just sit there and complain," invites residents to greet newcomers to their neighborhood as a way to build friendship and open the door for positive communication and interaction.
"We want students to understand that they are part of the community and that other people live in Newark besides them," Tracy Downs, BRC program director, says. "We also want residents to be more welcoming to students. If we open up that communication, hopefully there will be ongoing dialog. This program is trying to get students and residents to communicate and get to know one another. If you know your neighbor, you are more likely to respect her or him."
BRC is a campus/community partnership advocating policies for the responsible and legal use of alcohol in order to promote a healthy environment for students, residents and businesses by reducing the harm to people and property caused by high-risk drinking.
The partnership brings together more than 130 individuals representing a wide range of constituencies, including residents of Newark, UD students, faculty and staff, elected officials, city and state employees, business owners and alcohol licensees, clergy, school nurses, public safety personnel and civic association leaders.
The posters were designed by Monroe Givens, associate director of creative services in the Office of Public Relations.
--Martin Mbugua